Harper Government increases the safety of tissue and organ transplantation in New Brunswick

Horizon Health Network to participate in a transplantation reporting pilot project 

SAINT JOHN, NB, April 17, 2014 /CNW/ - Tissue and organ transplants are life saving procedures that improve and protect the health of Canadians in need. Today at St. Joseph's Hospital in Saint John, Member of Parliament Rodney Weston, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health, announced $228,000 to support the Horizon Health Network in their efforts to improve safety practices for tissue and organ transplantation in New Brunswick.

This pilot project between the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Horizon Health Network's Eye and Tissue Bank will generate awareness among health professionals in New Brunswick on how to recognize and report transplantation adverse events in the province, as well as develop a standardized reporting process for collecting data on adverse events.

The project is funded through the Public Health Agency of Canada's Blood Safety Contribution Program, which supports projects aimed at monitoring adverse events related to transfusion and transplantation. Projects under this program improve the health of Canadians by detecting and preventing adverse events related to tissue and organ transplantation and blood transfusions.

Quick Facts

• The Blood Safety Contribution Program contributes over $2.1 million annually to support projects in all provinces and territories.
• Currently in New Brunswick, there is no reporting tool to collect data on organ transplantation adverse events.
• The data collected by the Horizon Health Network will contribute to the Agency's national Cells, Tissue, and Organ Surveillance System (CTOSS).
• CTOSS is being piloted in five sites across Canada, including Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
• New Brunswick's Eye and Tissue Bank is a unique project site as it is the only combined eye and tissue bank serving Atlantic Canada.

Quotes

"Transplants save lives, and we are committed to strengthening all aspects of our tissue and organ transplantation system in an effort to continually protect the health of Canadians. The Government of Canada is pleased to support the Horizon Health Network in their efforts to enhance our transplantation surveillance program."

Rona Ambrose,
Minister of Health

"In this region and across the country, Canadians rely on the safety of the tissue and organ transplantation system. This project enhances our government's ability to conduct, design, and strengthen provincial and territorial surveillance initiatives, and will help keep Canadians safe and protected, and give them the peace of mind they deserve."

Rodney Weston
Member of Parliament, Saint John

"This additional financial support will enhance reporting practices for tissue and organ donation in the province. In the end, it's the families, donors and recipients who will benefit from this the most."

John McGarry
President & CEO,
Horizon Health Network

"A standardized reporting process will help other health professionals across Canada to understand and potentially prevent adverse patient events following a transplant. The sooner we know and share the information, the better the outcome for our patients."

Mary Gatien
Director of the New Brunswick Organ and Tissue Program,
Horizon Health Network

SOURCE: Public Health Agency of Canada

Michael Bolkenius
Office of the Honourable Rona Ambrose
Federal Minister of Health
[phone]

Media Relations
Public Health Agency of Canada
[phone]